Police officers killed in motorway crash

Two police officers were killed in a horrific crash near Würzburg in northern Bavaria Thursday evening. Two more officers and one civilian were also injured.

According to authorities, the officers, 23 and 25, were travelling to Würzburg in a police van on the A3 motorway following a mission in Aschaffenburg in north-western Bavaria.

A truck driving in the opposite direction carrying 27 tons of cement suddenly burst a tyre, broke through a middle lane and crashed into the police vehicle, killing the two officers, one of whom was driving the vehicle, and injuring two others travelling with them, authorities said.

The 61-year-old truck driver suffered minor injuries. All three of those hurt were taken to a local hospital.

The motorway was completely blocked in the direction of Würzburg for a time as investigators assessed the scene. But as of Friday morning, traffic appeared to be moving again.

The Local/DPA/DAPD